2015 Fall Boat Shows: Find Next Year's Boats

By Tom Keer

Sep 16, 2015

I attended my first of many fall boat shows a long time ago.

I attended my first of many fall boat shows a long time ago. It was after I had a fishing and boating season beyond frustration, for I spend far more time working on my outboard, hull, electronics and trailer than I did on the water. Mine was an old boat given to me by (I guess I could call him a friend), and he was desperate to get it out of his yard. We all know the saying about "free," right? The value you get out of it is worth every penny you paid. Nothing!

I hit the wall, I had had enough, so I tried to get ahead of the curve for next year. I did that by hitting the fall boat show circuit. There are a many of them across the nation, and they make perfect sense for a guy as frustrated as me. The fall boat shows educated me about options, I saw fishing boats within and without my price range, and some of them had classic craft that reminded me of better times.

Fall boat shows restored my hope. The weather was perfect so I had the opportunity to test out a bunch of boats. I ran into owners of similar makes and models, and they were invaluable resources for me. Seminars were educational, and they covered everything from boat maintenance, winter storage, boating tips and techniques... heck, a number of them had food and bands, too.

You only go around once in life but if you do it right, once is enough. For me, that started with reducing my headaches and increasing my fun. A fishing boat can do that. And you know what I'm talking about.

Check out these following September 2015 Fall Boat Shows:

Newport International Boat Show (RI)
09/17/15 - 09/20/15 Newport, RI

Metropark Boat Show
09/17/15 - 09/20/15 Harrison Township, MI

Tampa Bay Fall Boat Show
09/18/15 - 09/20/15 Tampa, FL

Jersey Shore Boat Sale and Expo
09/18/15 - 09/20/15 Lakewood, NJ

Lido Yacht Expo
09/18/15 - 09/20/15 Newport Beach, CA

Norwalk Boat Show
09/24/15 - 09/27/15 Norwalk, CT

Lake of the Ozarks September Boat Show
09/25/15 - 09/27/15 Sunrise Beach, MO

Indianapolis Fall Boat and RV Show
09/25/15 - 09/27/15 Indianapolis, IND

Geneva Lakes Antique and Classic Boat Show
09/26/15 - 09/27/15 Fontana, WI

Trawler Fest Baltimore, MD
09/29/15 - 10/04/15 Baltimore, MD

Tom Keer
Tom Keer
Tom Keer is an award-winning writer who lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  He is a columnist for the Upland Almanac, a Contributing Writer for Covey Rise magazine, a Contributing Editor for both Fly Rod and Reel and Fly Fish America, and a blogger for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing program.  Keer writes regularly for over a dozen outdoor magazines on topics related to fishing, hunting, boating, and other outdoor pursuits.  When they are not fishing, Keer and his family hunt upland birds over their three English setters.  His first book, a Fly Fishers Guide to the New England Coast was released in January 2011.  Visit him at www.tomkeer.com or at www.thekeergroup.com.